Ohio roundup: Ohio pulls away late to defeat Ball State

Walter Offutt got five of his 13 points in the final three minutes to help Ohio University defeat Ball State 59-54 yesterday.

Walter Offutt got five of his 13 points in the final three minutes to help Ohio University defeat Ball State 59-54 yesterday.

The Bobcats (17-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) led 34-27 at halftime and pushed their lead to 43-31.

Ball State (12-6, 4-3) went on a 15-3 run and took its first lead since the game's opening five minutes, 54-53 on Tyler Koch's three-pointer with 3:19 remaining. After Offutt made a layup, Jarrod Jones made 1 of 2 free throws to help the Cardinals tie the score at 55 with 2:33 left.

Offutt, a transfer from Ohio State, broke the tie with a layup, and then made a free throw to put the Bobcats ahead by three with 27 seconds left.